‘Autonomism and comprehensive sustainability
in Greenland and Nunavut’
Robert C. Thomsen
Aalborg University, Denmark
ISAR-4/ICARP III,
Toyama, 28 April 2015
Comprehensive sustainable development
Sustainable development is: “development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”
(Our Common Future 1987, 24).
• Sustainability goes beyond ‘ecologically sound’.
‘Comprehensive sustainable development’:
Ecological, economic, social, cultural, political and legal sustainability
(inter-connected, inter-dependent)
Different perceptions of ‘peoplehood’ (who
belongs to the collectivity)
=>
Different visions (autonomist demands)
Inuit collective identities and autonomisms
Pan-Inuit collective, indigenous identity (ICC)
- Demands for the recognition of the rights of an indigenous transnational
‘Inuit polity’ (Shadian, 2014: 5)
“Though Inuit live across a far-reaching circumpolar region, we are united
as a single people. […] Inuit are an indigenous people […]. Central to our
rights as a people is the right to self-determination.
[…] Recognition and respect for our right to self-determination is
developing at varying paces and in various forms in the Arctic states in
which we live.”
(ICC: ‘A Circumpolar Inuit Declaration on Sovereignty in the Arctic’, 2009)
Inuit collective identities and autonomisms
Local Inuit collective identity (Nunavummiut)
- Demands for inclusion, with the recognition of indigenous minority rights.
“The Inuit of Nunavut see themselves as a part of Canada and are
interested in further devolution of powers and in stronger cooperation and
partnership [within existing] federal structures” (Loukacheva, 2007: 16)
Inuit collective identities and autonomisms
National (Inuit) identity (Greenlanders)
- Demands for the recognition of inherent national rights of selfgovernment; ultimately, full political independence
“Recognising that the people of Greenland is a people pursuant to
international law with the right of self-determination […]. Decision regarding
Greenland’s independence shall be taken by the people of Greenland […].
Independence for Greenland shall imply that Greenland assumes
sovereignty over the Greenland territory.”
(‘Act on Greenland Self-Government’, 2009)
Map based on Inuit language (dialects), not
territory